PNG training programme in NZ earns plaudits

Transcript

A group of young Papua New Guinean officials and recruits who have been in New Zealand for foreign service training say engagement between the two countries is most beneficial to them.

They've been in Wellington for a three-week component of the Foreign Service Training Programme, in which PNG's Department of Foreign Affairs works in partnership with New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as well as Victoria University.

Johnny Blades went along to meet them.

It's not just Foreign Affairs people participating in the programme.  Representatives from line agencies like Defence and Labour have also been in Wellington.  The director of PNG's Foreign Service Training Programme is the leading diplomat Peter Eafeare.

PETER EAFEARE:  "The aim of the programme is really to translate the vision of what Papua New Guinea wants, in terms of capacity building, and specifically in this programme is to draw a whole-of-government approach to training foreign service officers and other line agencies within the government service.  To teach them basic foundation skills and diplomacy."

Maria Dolores Biaun is one of ten recruits chosen from a pool of around 600 applicants for the 9-month Foreign Service Training Programme.  Ms Biaun, who describes the training in New Zealand as inspiring and enriching, says she hopes to one day be an ambassador for PNG

MARIA DOLORES BIAUN:  "I would really love to go out there and show what Papua New Guinea is all about and to promote the interests of Papua New Guinea and to protect the interests of Papua New Guinea, to be the force behind establishing a good relationship between my country and the other country I am going to go into and represent.  Yes, I would really love (it).  I know that one day I will represent my country out there in the global arena."     

Kennewton Kennedy is with PNG's Department of Labour and Industrial Relations.  He says a big problem in PNG has been the lack of co-operation between line agencies, especially given the crossover of issues of concern to the various departments.  However, Mr Kennedy says this training programme is all about connection.

KENNEWTON KENNEDY:  "To tie in with other line agencies and other actors in this issue as well so it makes our job easier.  Also the time, for instance, with the ministry of foreign affairs and trade because it shows that we can work with them in terms of addressing our problems.  The other line is also in New Zealand and also in Australia so it makes our job more easier when we have this connection.  A contact person from the other side that we can work with makes our dialogue easier as well."

He says people-to-people links with New Zealand are important.

KENNEWTON KENNEDY:  "New Zealand is Pacific.  It is a Polynesian country as well.  The Maori, there is a lot of Samoans, Tongans, Ni-Vanuatu, Solomon Islanders and even some Papua New Guineans living in New Zealand as well.  It makes New Zealand a Pacific place as well.  It is easier for us to coexist with New Zealand and any areas in terms of mutual benefits will benefit both countries."  

Maria Dolores Biaun agrees that there's a smooth relationship between PNG and New Zealand, and she'd like to see an increased level of engagement between the two.  Regionally, the countries are both seen as a bigger brother to the smaller, Pacific Island states, and therefore have an ongoing role in protecting the interests of the islands region.